Contractor Dies After Electrical Incident at AK Steel

The Siemens contractor reportedly came in contact with an energized conductor.

Jun 25, 2015

A contractor performing specialized tests on a substation at AK Steel Ashland Work in Kentucky seems to have been electrocuted. The Siemens contractor reportedly came in contact with an energized conductor, according to a report from The Herald Dispatch.

Dwane Walters, 47, of Hico, W. Va., went into cardiac arrest, and was treated with a defibrillator at the scene. He was transported to King's Daughters Medical Center, and was pronounced dead about an hour after his arrival.

Walters had yelled after making contact with the conductor, telling workers to shut the power down, according to the Independent Online. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident.

Siemens released a statement confirming Walters' death: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Dwane and his family," the statement read. "We are in the process of working with officials to determine the cause and are offering support to the family."